·http://whitney.org/Education/ForTeachers

The Whitney Museum of American Art has been in the news of late due to its sensational new Renzo Piano-designed building. With its vast holdings of American 20th century art, the Museum is also considered one of the world's top art institutions. The Whitney website boasts an excellent page dedicated to teachers. Here, educators will discover Activities focused on works of art and special exhibitions, Teacher Guides to be used before and after a Museum visit (for Grades K-5 and Grades 6-12), and Teaching Tips more generally. For instance, one activity for elementary school students asks learners to engage with Edward Hopper's famous painting, Early Sunday Morning (1930), by imagining themselves into the scene, working in small groups, and questioning the themes and rhetoric of the art. Of course, the page also links to the Whitney's vast online digital collection, allowing teachers to engage students with the art work without ever leaving the classroom. [CNH]

Back to Top  |

·http://allthingsliberty.com/

This engaging free journal brings late 18th century America to life, with articles, columns, and shorts all dedicated to the foment and inspiration that birthed American democracy and culture. The journal's mission to "deliver impeccable, ideally groundbreaking historical research and well-written narrative" will appeal to educators looking to liven up lesson plans, as well as academics, journalists, and lovers of history of all kinds. Recent articles have featured the "disastrous leadership" of Lt. Colonel Joseph Harris at the Battle of New London, the life and times of artist Richard Bunton, who recorded everyday scenes of the time, and 10 Facts About Prisoners of War during the American Revolution. [CNH]

Back to Top  |

·http://www.exploratorium.edu/geometryplayground/resources.php

The Exploratorium is a multifaceted museum of "science, art, and human perception" on Pier 15 in San Francisco. The museum's website veritably bursts with educational resources, among them this page of activities designed to bring geometry to life for kids kindergarten-age through eighth grade. Here teachers, parents, tutors, and caretakers will find enlivening activities like the Geometry Scavenger Hunt, which takes kids out of the classroom and into a world of discovery; the Tiny Pants Photo Challenge, which uses photos and some card stock to learn basic geometric principles; and many others. Each activity includes a grade level designation, a short description, and can be downloaded in PDF format for easy use. A number of the activities are also available in Spanish. [CNH]

Back to Top  |

·http://palmm.fcla.edu/prism/index.shtml

Florida Atlantic University and the University of Central Florida have teamed up to gather a range of pamphlets and other materials concerning socialist, communist, and leftist views on a host of topics, from Marxist economics to world pacifism to anti-colonialism. The digitized collection features authors from the United States, the former USSR, India, Korea, and other countries, with archival material written primarily in the late 19th and early to mid 20th centuries. Readers may like to select Browse the Collection to begin. This will pull up nearly 2,000 documents, which can then be sorted by Title, Creator, Subject, and Date. The documents may also be searched by selecting Refine, and then using the Search Text box. Amazingly, historical documents such as "Woman's place in the fight for a better world," a 1947 publication from Elizabeth Gurley Flynn of the Communist Party of the United States of America, can be downloaded in PDF format. [CNH]

Back to Top  |

·http://sciencecases.lib.buffalo.edu/cs/collection/detail.asp?case_id=767&id=767

The National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science, which is housed at the University of Buffalo, is a National Science Foundation-sponsored, award-winning program that brings together various peer-reviewed case studies in order to enliven science education at the secondary and university levels. This particular case concerns an "unusual mortality event" (UME) of dolphins on the East Coast of the United States in the year 2013. The case study follows a journalist and four scientists attempting to solve the mystery. It then puts students in the role of investigators, asking them to read, compare, and interpret various explanations of the events, in the process learning the scientific and social aspects that likely intersected to cause the dolphin deaths. The entire case may be downloaded for free as a PDF. Teaching Notes and Answer Keys are also available. [CNH]

Back to Top  |

·http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn82015209/

Printed from August 1862 until the Union Army destroyed its printing presses and burned its headquarters to the ground in April 1865, the Chattanooga Daily Rebel covered the American Civil War from a Confederate perspective during three of the bloodiest years in American history. Readers may scout the dozens of issues available on the Library of Congress website by selecting All Front Pages and then using the zoom function to read selections from the daily paper. Articles include scathing critiques of the efforts of General Braxton Bagg's military operations, praise for the confederate soldiers, tales of small town murder, and a now-famous article defending the rights of a free press during war time. For students of the American Civil War, and those readers fascinated by primary historical documents, this site will provide hours of interesting reading. [CNH]

Back to Top  |

·http://postalmuseum.si.edu/

The Smithsonian National Postal Museum opened in 1993 in a beautiful, historic post office. With 35,000 square feet dedicated to exhibition space and a 6,000-square-foot library, the physical museum represents an impressive effort to bring the history and culture of the American postal service to life. Luckily for those of us who can't make it to D.C., the website is also excellent, with many collections and exhibits available online. The Arago Online Collection Database, which can be found under the Collections tab, is a particularly interesting feature as it links to photographic archives, collection projects, and other resources. The Virtual Exhibits are especially worth exploration, with such interesting features as "Fad to Fundamental: Airmail in America" and "Indians at the Post Office: Native Themes in New Deal-Era Murals." [CNH]

Back to Top  |

·https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/

This site from the U.S. Geological Survey can function as a lesson plan supplement or resource for amateur volcano watchers around the world. While the homepage features a map highlighting the current statuses of America's volcanoes (green for normal, and yellow, orange, and red for increasing alert levels), the site itself boasts a number of other educational resources. For instance, readers may select Learn for access to interesting material, both for educators and for the general public. In addition, Publications links to Volcano Fact Sheets, Volcano Assessments, and other interesting Volcano-related information. However, for many readers the Images tab, with its photographs of eruptions and its web cams of several U.S. volcanoes will constitute the dramatic heart of the site. [CNH]

Back to Top  |

·http://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/

According to the EPA website, Environmental Justice is "the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies." Founded in 1990, the EPA's work group on environmental equity seeks to redress a number of inequities, including the fact that some racial groups are exposed to harmful pollutants at alarming rates. On the site, readers might like to start with the original Environmental Equity report, which was composed in 1992 and can be located on the landing page by selecting "Read about how it all began!" In addition, readers may peruse Compliance and Enforcement Data Tools, such as a useful map entitled Environmental Justice in Your Community. Recommendations, articles, and other documents on the page provide ample reading. [CNH]

Back to Top  |

·http://dp.la/exhibitions/exhibits/show/radio-golden-age

The Golden Age of Radio, roughly the Depression era through World War II, spanned a time of great innovation and upheaval in the United States. Radio became the means by which Americans kept abreast of changing political, economic, and technological trends. This site from the Digital Public Library of America tracks the history of the radio, from its origins in the telegraph system to its contributions to America's efforts in World War I and World War II, from the beginning of Broadcast News to the way radio shaped American homes. The site is divided into five sections, each with several historical photographs and well written, informative text. [CNH]

Back to Top  |

·http://www.nature.com/news/diversity-1.15913

This special issue, the result of a partnership between Nature and Scientific American, explores the links between diversity and good research. Readers may like to begin with the excellent editorial that provides an overview of the other articles in the issue, and makes a strong case for racial, ethnic, gender, and LGBT diversity in the lab. From there, peruse the other articles at your leisure. For instance, based on a sample of 2.5 million research papers, Richard Freeman and Wei Huang make the interesting case that ethnically diverse teams publish more highly cited work. Likewise, Esteban Burchard describes how his experiences in a variety of cultures have led him to do better research, while Monica Ruiz-Casares argues against the common practice of generalizing Western industrialized samples onto other people around the world. [CNH]

Back to Top  |

·http://blog.mcny.org/

The Museum of the City of New York's collections include nearly one million objects and run the gamut from prints to photographs to drawings to manuscripts. Since June of 2011, the catalogers who have worked to bring this richness to the Internet have been composing a blog as they digitize their collections. Recent entries have included the excavation of a cold storage shed on the Tweed Courthouse Grounds, a phalanx of photographs related the hip hop revolution, and an interview with curators as they talk about the remarkable landmarks of New York City. With over 100 blog posts to read and reflect upon, lovers of New York history and ephemera will find much to enjoy.[CNH]

Back to Top  |

·http://www.pewinternet.org/quiz/web-iq-quiz/

This entertaining Pew Research Center quiz asks 12 questions about the history, functionality, and use of the Internet, including questions about Net Neutrality, the release of the first iPhone, identification of industry leaders, and the number of characters allowed in a tweet. The site then compares readers' scores to a representative sample of 1,066 adult Internet users who took the same assessment in September 2014. Based on these results, Pew gives users a Web IQ. This editor scored better than 90.2% of the general public, fumbling answers related to the first graphical Web browser (circa 1993) and the definition of Moore's Law (ouch). How will your web knowledge compare? [CNH]

Back to Top  |

·http://video.mit.edu/

With 150 channels and over 12,000 videos, MIT Video is one of the great unsung repositories of the Internet. Looking for videos related to the arts? There are 174 available. Or perhaps you are more interested in Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences. More than 80 videos are waiting for you. Indeed, there are also 261 Engineering videos, 182 videos about Robotics, 181 videos related to Entrepreneurship, and 215 videos about Brain and Cognitive Science. Scouting the site is easy with the site's excellent search function. It is also possible to browse by Channels, Type (Community, Educational, Feature, News, and more), Spotlight, and Surprise Me. However readers choose to navigate the site, there will be many opportunities for hours of video viewing. [CNH]

Back to Top  |

·http://digitallibrary.tulane.edu/collection/id/38

This collection from the Tulane Digital library explores the ambiguities of Post World War II Louisiana as the nation confronted communism and other perceived global and national threats. The primary documents featured here center on the themes of Cold War propaganda. For instance, a four-page pamphlet on the site begins, "A Warning! These Facts Are to Warn You of the Conspiracies and Encroachments of Communist Forces on Your Government, Your Property, Your Liberty." The site also includes a letter from a principal to his students, warning of the threats of Communism, coverage of loyalty oaths in the New Orleans School Board, and other fascinating historical documents. Readers will want to select Browse this Collection after starting with the short introductory page.[CNH]

Back to Top  |

·http://apod.nasa.gov/

Online since June 16th 1995, which probably explains the 1990s look of the site design, NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day directs your eyes to the sky. Images are contributed by professional and amateur photographers and scientists. Each day's photo is accompanied by commentary from an expert. For example, the photo for May 11, 2015 shows the view of the sky over Hawaii's Mauna Kea volcano. Rollover annotations plot the locations of another volcano, Kilauea, the city of Hilo, the Milky Way, and other stars, constellations, and planets, directly onto the picture. The archive provides access to the last 20 years of images. Users can also follow Astronomy Picture of the Day on Facebook, Google Plus, or Twitter. [DS]

Back to Top  |

·https://www.doubletwist.com/

doubleTwist is a sleek and user-friendly music player. Available as a free desktop installation or as an Android app, doubleTwist automatically locates and organizes music, photos, and videos stored on your hard drive. It then syncs these files with Android devices, making for a seamless experience that rivals Apple for usability. Installation is easy, and reviews from users and critics alike are very positive. [CNH]

Back to Top  |

·http://www.toodledo.com

Toodledo is more than just a simple to-do list. It's a way to organize your life, meet deadlines, and stay productive at work and at home. The service integrates a number of tools, including ways to store notes, lists, and outlines; ways to share with friends, family, and coworkers; and ways to safely sync data across devices. It's also adaptable. For users who want a few tools to keep them on track, there are packages that keep it simple. For expert users that want to customize work flow with whole teams of colleagues, there are various upgrades that allow that kind of tech-driven collaboration. Users might like to start with a few to-do lists and get to know the service before beginning. But learning the program is easy, and it automatically syncs across devices, including desktops, iOS and Android. [CNH]

Back to Top  |

Amazon details drone delivery plans
http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-32653269

Amazon's Delivery Drones Could Find You Wherever You Are
http://techcrunch.com/2015/05/08/amazons-delivery-drones-could-find-you-wherever-you-are/

Amazon Drone Delivery Update: Drones Will Talk To Each Other, Locate Customers By Phone
http://www.ibtimes.com/amazon-drone-delivery-update-drones-will-talk-each-other-locate-customers-phone-1916207

Senators Unveil Temporary Drone Laws That May Bode Well For Amazon And Google
http://www.forbes.com/sites/ryanmac/2015/05/12/commercial-drone-laws-cory-booker-john-hoeven-faa-google-amazon/

FAA's Relaxed Drone Rules Could Mean Big Changes for Industry
http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/246074

Amazon drone patent application imagines delivery that comes to you with one click
http://edition.cnn.com/2015/05/12/politics/amazon-patent-drone-delivery/

Whether we like it or not, some of the Jetsons' futuristic ideas may be close at hand. One of the more interesting, while contentious, developments was recently published by the US Patent and Trademark Office, revealing Amazon's work on a delivery drone that will provide a customer option called "Bring It To Me." According to the plans, GPS data from mobile phones will be used to locate a customer wherever he or she may be. No more staying in one place, or worrying about how to get a package if traveling or otherwise unreachable. Amazon's plans for drone delivery are putting increasing pressure on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to allow more US-based drone research and development. Combined with the possible sway of new regulations proposed by a pair of bipartisan Senators, there may be a much friendlier legal environment for these kinds of experiments in the near future. [CNH]

The first three articles, from BBC, TechCrunch, and the International Business Times, respectively, analyze Amazon's new patent and uncover the retail giant's futuristic plans to deliver a number of different products directly to customers regardless of their location. Meanwhile, the fourth article, by Forbes' Ryan Mac and Frank Bi, examines a new Senate bill proposed by New Jersey Democrat Corey Booker and North Dakota Republican John Hoeven. The Commercial UAS Modernization Act will take a first crack at regulating small unmanned aircraft such as those Amazon hopes to utilize in its delivery plans. The fifth and sixth links, from Entrepreneur Magazine and CNN, further unpack the legal possibilities of the new bill.